Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) - 1948 Words

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects individuals whose brain development is outside of the norm. ASD is a complex disorder and each individual that suffers from has a unique set of conditions. The symptoms of individuals with ASD vary in severity. That is, the disorder is characterized, in varying degrees, based on how difficult social interactions and communicating are for the person. Before, all types of autism were considered as distinct and subtypes of autism. Each type of autism was termed as a unique disorder. For example, there was Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger syndrome etc.†¦ (Autism Speaks, 2016). However, the DSM-5 diagnostic manual merged all degrees of autism disorders into†¦show more content†¦In an investigation, completed by Takahashi et al. (2016), MEG was used to measure signal variation during free watching of videos, without sound, in younger and older children with ASD and without ASD. The childre n were in the age group where neural network maturation is critical. Results from their study revealed an expected age-related increase of brain signal variability children that weren’t on the autism spectrum, whereas atypical age-related brain signals were observed in the ASD group. Additionally, brain signals deviated from the norm a lot more in children with ASD, particularly for younger children. These results are in line with a recently reported theory of increased brain signal variability during development and abnormal neural connectivity in persons with ASD, especially during early childhood (Takahashi et al., 2016). Additionally, these deviations of brain signaling and neural connectivity from the norm the basis of the numerous complex sign and symptoms that is associated with ASD. Considering Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, parents and caregivers can detect signs of autism very early on in children by monitoring their children’s developmental milestones. According to Autism Speaks Canada (2016), some red flags that may be indicative of children being at risk for an autism spectrum disorder